Curtain rod



B. F. M MURRY 2.237.710

CURTAIN ROD April 8, 1941.

Filed March 17, 1939 Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFI'CE CURTAINROD Benjamin F. McMurry, Knoxville, Tenn. Application March 17, 1939, seria1N0.262,412 5 Claims. ol. 156+22) My invention relates-to curtain rods and is concerned more particularly with devices for supporting such rods.

It is common to make curtain rods with specially formed end portions designed to cooperate with brackets which are nailed or screwed in place on a window frame, wall or other fixed part of a building interior. These brackets support the curtain rod in position to receive and carry the curtain and they are obviously practical and satisfactory in proportion as they perform this function successfully. Difliculty has been experienced with many bracket and rod combinations because they permit the curtain-supporting part of the rod to sag under the weight of the curtain and accidental and incidental loads to which the rod is sometimes subjected, because attachment and removal of the bracket to and from the window frame or other integral part of the room surface results in marring that sur- 1 face, because the connection of the rod to the bracket or of the bracket to the room surface is not always initially secure and does not always remain secure, because most of the brackets are unsightly, many are cumbersome and diflicult to mount in place and connect to the rod, because the cost of manyof the brackets is an appreciable factor in the cost of the whole assembly, because the necessity of using a pair of brackets with each rod adds at least two elements to the combination of rod and brackets, so that replacement of lost or bent brackets is frequently necessary, and for other reasons well known to the average user.

An object of the present invention is to provide a curtain rod having specially formed end portions which require no brackets but which can be mounted on pin means, such as a nail; screw or the like, permanently or removably driven into the window framing or other surface. These nails or screws are so inconspicuous as to be practically unnoticeable when the rod is mounted in place on them, and they are hardly discernible when left in place after the rod is removed. Moreover, holes left when such nails or screws are removed are not in the front surface of the window framing or trim and do not mar beautifully finished woodwork. The invenvention may be considered as proposing a bracketless rod, or the pin may be regarded as the bracket. The pin may be made practically indestructibleand proof against distortion. If one should become lost it is easily and inexpensively replaced, or an acceptable substitute can be readily improvised.

Other objects of the/invention are to provide a construction which will be free of the difficulties and disadvantages of the prior art constructions as suggested hereinabove.

I accomplish these and other related objects by providing a novel end formation for curtain rods, the curtain supporting portion of which may be made in any conventional form and style. The novel end construction includes an opening re- 1 ceiving'the pin referred to hereinabove, cooperating with the pin in the manner of a hook, in combination with a right-angularly directed projection which seats against the front face of the window frame to limit the angular movement of T the hook about the pin. The weight of the curtain on the rod causes each end portion of the rod to tend to turn about its pin as a pivot, until the pin seats in the end of the opening and the projection bears against the front face of the window frame, in which condition the rod is securely mounted and can become accidentally displaced only by the failure of the pin or by its becoming bent or detached from the window frame. Since the pin can be provided in a thickness and of a length capable of making it proof against bending or other failure, and since it can be driven into the wood of the frame to a depth which will prevent its becoming loosened or detached, it will be evident that the mounting is substantial and permanent and successfully withstands all normal stresses. Indeed, the end structure, when the article is made of the materials usually employed in devices of this general character, and when installed with simple and reasonable care, will remain securely attached to the window frame under the imposition of loads suflicient to break or distort the curtain-supporting portions of the rod.

As will be explained more in detail hereinafter, the device is installed by simply engaging the hooked end portions with the pins by means of an upward and turning movement, and the device is equally readily dismounted by a reverse operation.

A principal advantage of the new construction residesin the fact that it can be made at extremely low cost, as by stamping conventional stock material.

A further advantage results from the fact that the stresses in the mounted end portion of the curtain rod all lie entirely or substantially in the plane of the sheet material from which the end portion is made, and by virtue of this elimination of distorting lateral stresses, the stock from which the end portions are made may be quite thin and therefore inexpensive as well as light in weight.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description hereinafter of the invention in a preferred form of embodiment. This embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms part of this application for Letters Patent and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of embodiment of the curtain rod made according to the principles of the invention, mounted in place on the frame of a window or the like;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the rod shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the rod mounted in place; and

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of end construction.

Referring to the drawing, the curtain rod includes a central portion which may be of any conventional and approved form. As shown, the rod is made in three parts, conveniently of sheet metal, comprising a central portion receiving two end sections in telescopic relation. Of course, the two end sections might be telescopically related to each other without the interposition of a separate central section, or if lengthwise adjusability is not desired a single length of material may be formed to provide an inextensible rod. The invention is not concerned with the shape or construction of the central portion which is adapted to be engaged by and support a curtain or the like and which, in the appended drawing, is illustrated as consisting of a metal section I comprising the central portion of the rod and two terminal sections 2, 2, each of which includes the novel end plate portion.

The invention resides in the novel formation of the ends of the rod by which it is mounted. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 these; end portions are designated 3, 3 and are turned right-angularly from the central portion of the rod. Each end portion which may be in plate form integral with the curtain supporting part of the rod or the adjacent section 2 thereof, or may be made separately and permanently or detachably connected to the parts I or 2, has its upper edge broken by a slot 4, preferably angularly directed into the material of the end plate portion so that the inner end of the slot, which extends toward the A outer or free end of the plate portion 3, results in the plate portion taking the form of a terminal hook. This hook is adapted to be engaged with the shank of a pin or the like 5, which as shown in Fig. l is driven into that side surface 6 of a window frame or the like 1 which is at right angles to the wall of the room and at right angles to the plane of a pane of glass (not shown) which may be carried by a sash (not shown) conventionally mounted in the frame I.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the end plate portion of the curtain rod is slit inwardly from its terminal edge to a point between the end or base of the slot 4 in which the pin is adapted to be seated and the plane of the central or curtain supporting portion of the rod. The tab of metal which is defined on one side by this slit is turned inwardly to provide an integral lug or ear 8 which has a surface lying in a vertical plane substantially parallel with that of the curtain supporting portion ofthe rod. As shown in Figs. 1

' and 3 the projection 8 is adapted to bear against what may be regarded as the front surface of the window frame I. As will be clearly evident from Fig. 3, the reaction of this surface of the Window frame I limits turning of the rod about the pin 5 as a pivot when the rod is installed as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the Weight of a curtain supported by the rod securely seats the hook of the plate portion against the pin 5.

Of course, the projection 8 need not be formed in the specific manner just explained or take the particular form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. It may be provided, for example, in the form of a separate post securely mounted on the plate portion 3.

In Fig. 4 I show a modification in which the material of the plate portion which lies between its lower edge and the slit which, as has been explained, is directed inwardly from the terminal edge of the plate, is removed. In this case the lower edge of the plate portion is bent inwardly to provide a rear edge surface 9 which bears against the front surface of the window frame in the same way as does the flat surface of the projection 8 in Figs. 1 and 3.

The width of the slot 4, at least in that portion of the slot where the pin 5 seats, is preferably made narrower than the width of the head of the pin, to prevent detachment of the rod from its mounting by axial extension beyond the head of the pin.

It will be evident that the device can be initially installed by disposing the end plate portions against the window frame as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and then driving the pin 5 at each side into the surface 6 of the window frame with the shank of the pin well seated in the inner end of the slot 4. The device can be readily removed by tilting it upwardly, to rock the plates 3 about the pins 5 as pivots and then dropping the hooked ends out of engagement with the pins, which leave the plate portions through the open ends of the slots. The device may be re-installed by the reverse of this operation, which involves holding the plate ends 3 at-a downwardly directed inclination with respect to the window frame side edges, and lifting the device until the slots 4 seat the pins, then dropping the relatively elevated central portion of the rod and swinging it downwardly about the pins as pivots until the member 8, surface 9, or equivalent projection seats against the front surface of the window frame.

It will be appreciated that the pins 5 need be installed only once. Their removal is not necessary to dismount the rod, and their small size makes them inconspicuous when the rod is in place and when the rod is removed.

It will be found that the projection, particularly the type shown at 8 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, has a sufficiently broad bearing surface to prevent marring of the woodwork.

It will also be recognized that the entire weight of the curtain is borne by compressive stress against the front face of the window frame and by shearing stress on the pins 5. Even the common and cheapest types of woodwork and nails are found sufficiently strong to withstand these stresses without deformation or distortion.

While it is an exceedingly simple matter to install the device in accurate position, with the ment only. In the appended claims I point out the broad principles of the invention in terms of this essential structure, and the scope of these claims is not to be considered limited to the embodiments selected for illustration. On the contrary, the invention is capable of embodiment in other and further modified forms, and all such modified embodiments are to be considered within the scope and purview of the appended claims except insofar as the claims are limited by their express language and as required by the state of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A curtain rod device including a central portion adapted to be engaged by and support a curtain and having at each end a plate portion extending substantially right-angularly to the axis of the central portion, each end plate portion having a slot therein forming a hook having an upwardly facing bearing surface adapted to seat a mounting pin projecting from a fixed support in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the vertical plane of the central portion of the curtain rod device, each end plate portion having an inwardly projecting lug between said bearing surface and the central portion of the device adapted to bear against a fixed vertical surface and support the device by limiting its; rotation about the pin as pivot.

2. A curtain rod device including a central porhaving a slot formed therein open to the upper edge of the portion and angularly directed toward the free edge of the end plate portion so as to form a hook adapted to seat in the inner end of the slot a mounting pin projecting from a fixed support in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the vertical plane of the central portion of the curtain rod device, each end plate portion having an inwardly projecting lug between the inner end of the slot and the central portion of the device adapted to bear against a fixed vertical surface and support the device by limiting its rotation about the pin as a pivot.

3. A curtain rod device including a central portion adapted to be engaged by and support a curtain and having at each end a plate portion extending substantially right-angularly to the axis of the central portion, each end plate portion having a slot therein forming a hook having an upwardly facing bearing surface adapted to seat a mounting pin projecting from a fixed support in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the vertical plane of the central portion of the curtain'rod device, each end plate portion having struck out therefrom along the line of its lower edge between said bearing surface and the central portion of the device an inwardly projecting integral lug or ear adapted to bear against a fixed vertical surface and. support the device by limiting its rotation about the pin as a pivot.

4. For use with a window frame comprising a side member having a vertical front surface and a vertical side surface normal thereto, the combination of a pin projecting from said vertical side surface and a curtain rod device including a central portion adapted to be engaged by and support a curtain and having at each end a plate portion extending substantially right-angularly to the axis of the central portion, each end plate portion having a slot formed therein open to the upper edge of the portion and forming a hook adapted to seat said pin in the inner end of the slot, and an inwardly projecting lug between the inner end of the slot and the central portion of the device adapted to bear against the front surface of the window frame side member and support the device by limiting its rotation about the pin as a pivot.

5. For use with a window frame comprising a side member having a vertical front surface and a vertical side surface normal thereto, the com bination of a pin projecting from said vertical side surface and having a head and a curtain rod device including a central portion adapted to be engaged by and support a curtain and having at each end a plate portion extending substantially right-angularly to the axis of the central portion, each end plate portion having a slot formed therein open to the upper edge of the portion and forming a hook adapted to seat said pin in the inner end of the slot, said inner end of the slot being narrower than the width of the head of the pin, and an inwardly projecting lug between the inner end of the slot and the central portion of the device adapted to bear against the front surface of the window frame side member and support the device by limiting its rotation about the pin as a pivot.

BENJAMIN F. McMURRY. 

